Maundy Thursday: Passover Preparations (April 2, AD 33) Matt 26:17-46; Mark 14:12-42; Luke 22:14-46; John 13-17 Thursday builds to a crescendo as Jesus and His followers make preparations to celebrate the Passover, one of the main reasons why they came to Jerusalem in the first place. John, in particular, gives a moving account of Jesus’… Read More

Wednesday: The Plot Against Jesus (April 1, AD 33) Matt 26:1-5; Mark 14:1-2; Luke 21:37-22:2 Sunday had seen the Triumphal Entry, Monday the Temple cleansing, and Tuesday a series of controversies with the Jewish authorities and teachers of the law. By contrast, Wednesday is a rather quiet day—as it turns out, the quiet before the… Read More

Tuesday: The Lesson of the Fig Tree, Temple Controversies (March 31, AD 33) Matt 21:20-25:46; Mark 11:20-13:37; Luke 20:1-21:36 On the following day, Jesus and His disciples pass by the fig tree Jesus had cursed the previous day. When Jesus’ followers notice that the tree had withered, Jesus challenges them to have faith in God;… Read More

Monday: Jesus Curses a Fig Tree, Clears the Temple (March 30, AD 33) Matt 21:12-19; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48 As Jesus returns to Jerusalem the next morning, He spots a fig tree. Promptly, He curses it due to its failure to bear fruit. In the Old Testament, Israel is often depicted as a fig tree… Read More

Palm Sunday: Jesus Enters Jerusalem (March 29, AD 33) Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 After three and a half years of public ministry, Jesus’ messianic activity is now reaching a major climax. As Jesus’ brothers had told Him earlier, anyone who claimed to be the Jewish Messiah must reveal Himself to be… Read More